Purdue also lost 29-22 in overtime at Ohio State on Oct. 20, after the Buckeyes drove 61 yards to a touchdown and tying two-point conversion in the final 47 seconds of regulation.

So when Purdue defensive tackle Kawann Short offers this cliché — “We can compete with anyone in the nation.” — he at least has some evidence.

But Purdue failed to consistently sustain those kinds of inspired performances. The 6-6 Boilermakers, who play Oklahoma State in the Heart of Dallas Bowl on Tuesday, became bowl eligible only by winning three straight to end the season.

Of Purdue's victories, five came against opponents that finished with a losing record (Eastern Michigan, Marshall, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana) and one came against I-AA Eastern Kentucky.

The 6-6 finish cost coach Danny Hope his job. Purdue will be led by interim coach Patrick Higgins for the bowl game. Beat Notre Dame or Ohio State — or heavens both — and Hope probably would have kept his job.

“We felt like we could have had an impact on our season,” Short said of pulling a big upset. “We would have changed our season tremendously.”

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by Berry Tramel

Columnist

Berry Tramel, a lifelong Oklahoman, sports fan and newspaper reader, joined The Oklahoman in 1991 and has served as beat writer, assistant sports editor, sports editor and columnist. Tramel grew up reading four daily newspapers — The Oklahoman,...